Markets
Hospital Expansions
Expand hospital capacity while care keeps moving
Major hospital expansions require careful integration with existing infrastructure, utilities, technology systems, and ongoing clinical operations.
Salas O’Brien partners with healthcare organizations to plan and deliver major expansions, including bed towers and diagnostic and treatment (D&T) facilities, while aligning expansion investments with long-term campus growth, operational priorities, and future capacity needs.
Hospital Expansions Projects
Royal Columbian Hospital: new era of care in British Columbia
The Royal Columbian Hospital redevelopment represents one of the largest healthcare projects ever awarded in British Columbia – expanding access to critical, lifesaving care for generations to come. In this video, Duane Waite, Andrew Pratt, and Khaja Syed share how this landmark project transformed an aging facility into a next-generation hospital while remaining fully operational throughout construction.
Tackling Healthcare’s Toughest Facility Challenges
Salas O’Brien’s latest report delivers actionable insights and practical strategies to help you create safer, more efficient, and patient-centered spaces.
Inside the report:
- Infection control (p.4) – How MEP systems influence the spread of infectious diseases
- Energy solutions (p.8) – Meeting sustainability goals within tight capital budgets, including the role of microgrids (p.10) and geo-exchange (p.14)
- Aging facilities (p.12) – Strategies to modernize and extend the life of existing buildings
- Workplace safety (p.16) – Security solutions to protect healthcare workers
- Noise control (p.20) – Leveraging acoustics to improve healing environments and improve patient surveys
What we can offer
Salas O’Brien provides a wide variety of engineering and technical services to meet the demands of this high-performance sector.
Contact our healthcare teamMechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection
Salas O’Brien’s mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire protection design team delivers common-sense, integrated design solutions that are cost-effective, reliable, and energy efficient.
Decarbonization & sustainability
Salas O’Brien works with clients to develop and implement strategies that result in higher performance, greater resilience, and produce tangible savings.
Structural
Salas O’Brien’s structural expertise extends from conceptual development and 3D modeling to surveys, investigative studies, and due diligence assessments.
Commissioning
Salas O’Brien’s commissioning/retro-commissioning team specializes in verifying that building systems and equipment perform at their optimum function, helping your facility operate efficiently and reliably.
Civil
Salas O’Brien’s civil engineering team delivers integrated design solutions for industrial, commercial, municipal, and power generation clients.
Technology
Salas O’Brien’s technology design team provides design for data infrastructure, security systems, and audio-video technology.
Physical security
Salas O’Brien has physical security consultants and designers that specialize in the needs of healthcare facilities from risk analysis to electronic security systems.
Acoustics and noise control
Noise is one of the most frequent complaints from hospital patients, often receiving the lowest scores on patient satisfaction surveys. Salas O’Brien helps healthcare facilities tackle this issue through smart design and sound control strategies.
Lighting design
Lighting influences nearly every aspect of the healthcare environment, from patient comfort and recovery to staff performance and safety. Salas O’Brien helps healthcare facilities create effective lighting solutions that enhance the care experience while supporting energy efficiency, operational goals, and long-term flexibility.
Building envelope consulting and testing
Salas O’Brien covers all aspects of building envelope consulting, from design collaboration for new construction to installation oversight during construction. On existing buildings, our expertise also includes in-depth forensic analysis to pinpoint envelope failures, then offering detailed repair and remediation guidance.
Our field-testing services use cutting-edge tools to assess air and water tightness, thermal efficiency, and structural soundness. We have an ISO 17025 accredited lab and are capable of conducting a variety of both lab and field testing procedures following FGIA/AAMA, ASTM and other industry standards. Our team also specializes in energy modeling to boost efficiency and hazardous material sampling for safety. Our comprehensive building envelope commissioning facilitates optimal performance of your building’s envelope, enhancing the functionality of both new and existing structures.
Forensic consulting services
Salas O’Brien performs investigation and analysis of failures, damages, or defects in structures and materials. Our experts determine causation, whether due to natural events like storms, fires, and earthquakes, or human factors such as construction errors or design flaws. We assess the integrity of buildings and other structures, machinery, building systems, and infrastructure, providing detailed reports that are often used in insurance claims, legal disputes, and risk management. Our work helps clients understand the root causes and guides them in making informed decisions about repairs, replacements, and preventive measures.
